Next month the DfES is to publish research demonstrating the high levels of job satisfaction among workers in the sector.
The Government says thousands more people need to be recruited to work with pre-school children to support the expansion of services and wants to encourage individuals from a range of backgrounds. This new campaign aims to recruit ethnic minorities and men into the workforce.
Ms Hashemi spent a day working with early years practitioners at the Robert Owen Early Years Centre in Greenwich, London.
She said, 'Working in early years is not different to any other fulfilling work, as you use exactly the same skills: having a vision and making it happen. But ultimately it's about working together with other people. If you want to make a contribution to society and help build a solid foundation for our future generation, I can't imagine anything more challenging than working with young children.'
The nursery's deputy head, Fiona Kemp, said, 'I think Sahar was surprised to see how much work and dedication goes into planning and implementing each activity. She could appreciate that staff have a challenging job but also how rewarding it can be when the children achieve something new.'
The DfES is also planning a marketing campaign next month to promote take-up of formal childcare among lower-income families using a combination of press, posters and direct mail.
A DfES spokesman said it would highlight that quality childcare is more widely accessible and reliable than ever. It will promote the take-up of childcare and free nursery education places for three- and four-year-olds by stressing the benefits for children's emotional and social development and attainment at primary school and beyond.
The campaign will also say that formal childcare enables parents to leave their children in a safe environment with trained practitioners so that they can work, train or study or have free time to themselves.
